Saturday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
Blessed Ignatius de Azevedo, priest, and 39 companions, martyrs (†1570). In 1570, a large group of Portuguese Jesuits missionaries were on voyage to Brazil, headed by Blessed Ignatius when, in the region of the Canary Islands, they were attacked by French Huguenot pirates who massacred the priests out of religious hatred.
St. Leo IV, Pope (†855). Ordered the construction of the Vatican walls to protect the region against Saracen attacks. Defender of justice and apologist for the primacy of Peter.
St. Andrew, hermit (†1031). Went to Hungary at the request of King St. Stephen and led a life of extreme austerity in the Carpathian Mountains region.
St. Marcellina, virgin (†fourth century). Sister of St. Ambrose; she received the veil of the virgins from Pope Liberius.
St. Hedwig of Poland, queen (†1399). Born in Hungary, she became Queen of Poland by birthright and Grand Duchess of Lithuania through her marriage to Wladyslaw II. With her husband, she established the Catholic Faith in this Baltic country.
Sts. Justa and Rufina, virgins and martyrs (†circa 287). Sevillian sisters who were imprisoned and cruelly tortured by order of the governor Diogenian.
Blesseds Thérèse of St. Augustine and fifteen companions, virgins and martyrs (†1794). Religious from the Carmel of Compiègne, guillotined during the French Revolution.
Blessed Paul Gojdich, bishop and martyr (†1960). While Ordinary of the Eparchy of Presov, in Slovakia, he was put in prison, where he died after undergoing torture.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ex 12:37-42
The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth,
about six hundred thousand men on foot,
not counting the little ones.
A crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them,
besides their livestock, very numerous flocks and herds.
Since the dough they had brought out of Egypt was not leavened,
they baked it into unleavened loaves.
They had rushed out of Egypt and had no opportunity
even to prepare food for the journey.
The time the children of Israel had stayed in Egypt
was four hundred and thirty years.
At the end of four hundred and thirty years,
all the hosts of the LORD left the land of Egypt on this very date.
This was a night of vigil for the LORD,
as he led them out of the land of Egypt;
so on this same night
all the children of Israel must keep a vigil for the LORD
throughout their generations.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 136:1 and 23-24, 10-12, 13-15
R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever;
Who remembered us in our abjection,
for his mercy endures forever;
And freed us from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever. R.
Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born,
for his mercy endures forever;
And brought out Israel from their midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
for his mercy endures forever. R.
Who split the Red Sea in twain,
for his mercy endures forever;
And led Israel through its midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
for his mercy endures forever. R.
Gospel – Mt 12:14-21
The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus
to put him to death.
When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place.
Many people followed him, and he cured them all,
but he warned them not to make him known.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I shall place my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not contend or cry out,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
